KDP wants to ‘handcuff’ new Speaker

2018-11-28 18:58:31

From the previous Kurdistan Parliament Presidency Board, just the deputy speaker belonged to the KDP

By Surkew Mohammed

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) plans to prevent the issuance of any new law or bill in parliament without its consent. For that, the party depends on the vote of components in the parliament. In that framework, KDP wants to have the first deputy speaker for itself, and the second for the Turkmen component, to handcuff the Speaker of parliament in this tenure.

KDP has 45 seats out of 111 seats of parliament, the second party, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), does not enjoy half the number. However, controlling parliament would prove to be difficult.

Parliament had the lion’s share of confronting KDP in the last four years. Although the new parliament also has opposition, KDP’s plan is different for the next four years.

“Parliament has left a bad taste in KDP’s mouth in the past four years, it will not be repeated in this tenure,” a high-ranking source of KDP told Peregraf.

The source, who preferred to stay anonymous said, “KDP wants a second deputy Speaker for Turkmens, for which we have a strong candidate, Muna Qahwachi from Turkmen Reform party.”

Furthermore, KDP aims at the other deputy Speaker, for a candidate of its own. However, the parliament Speaker is not on the list as KDP might agree to give up the position for PUK or Gorran.

The tendency to revive the suspended position of president has emerged inside the KDP.

The argument is that KDP should keep the position of the Speaker unless the presidency is revived, “In any case, from the three-member parliament Speakership, one is for KDP, and one is for Turkmens,” the source said.

The components have a fixed 11 seats in parliament, which requires fewer votes when compared to the other 100 seats.

For long, KDP has guaranteed the affiliation of all the component representatives, this time through the special voting, as the party advised its military members to vote for a specific component candidate.

In this tenure of parliament, the position of parliament rapporteur will no longer exist.

Instead, the parliament Speaker may have two deputies. Session schedules, bills, and other duties of parliament will be decided not only by the Speaker but by the parliament Speakership. In that case, the Speaker needs at least one deputy to organise such duties.

Turkmens have also expressed their desire to have one parliament Speakership position.

Speaking to Peregraf, Muna Qahwachi said, “As the Turkmen component, we want to participate in the political process through true partnership. We’ll start from the parliament Speakership, and we find it as our right to have a representative in the Speakership.”

Qahwachi’s party, in alliance with four Turkmen parties, has already prepared a proposal for such a matter, in waiting for the KDP to visit them and discuss the project. However, she rejected the notion that she is the sole candidate for the parliament Speakership position, “We, as the Turkmen component, have asked one of the deputy parliament Speakers. If KDP agrees to give the position to Turkmen component, we could discuss it later.”

According to the parliament statute, the Speakership is elected through the absolute majority, that is half+1 of votes. KDP, along with Turkmens, could overcome such a task, as KDP enjoys 45 seats, with the 11 seats of components, the other parties will not be an obstacle for them if KDP is so inclined.

Qahwachi said they have spoken with all parties, and have asked for a share in the new cabinet.

PUK has already voiced its desire to take part in the government, and Gorran follows suit, while there are voices against such a step inside the latter.

While Gorran does not want any position in parliament Speakership, PUK favours parliament Speaker to be their own, along with the deputy prime minister.

On the other hand, KDP plans to have two deputies for the prime minister, one for Gorran. However, KDP officials have openly announced that their party does not want any power distribution between the prime minister and his/her deputy, as it was the case in the past, “We don’t want a deputy to act as the prime minister in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja provinces.”

The first session of parliament was held on 6 November, while the Speakership could not be elected due to the disagreements between the political parties. The session remained open.

As of now, the oldest member of parliament, which is the interim parliament Speaker automatically, is a member of KDP. Although KDP could easily verify the new cabinet through the absolute majority inside parliament, the situation on the ground could prove to be risky, due to the remnants of dual administration. A stable government could not be formed without PUK and Gorran.

While PUK has been an essential element inside the cabinets of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) since 1992, Gorran started in 2009 as opposition, and later joined the government in 2013. The party withdrew then after two years. In these two years, Gorran had the position of the parliament Speaker.

Although the relation between the Speaker of parliament, and his deputy, which was a KDP, was strong, it took a downturn when the presidency row emerged.

The issue reached a point where KDP barred the parliament Speaker to enter Erbil in October 2015.

KDP wants to control the institution by assigning its Speakership. The party could pass any bill through its votes along with the components.

PUK has already decided to take part in the new parliament. The newly-formed New Generation and the Kurdistan Islamic Union have decided to be an opposition, while Gorran and the Kurdistan Islamic Group have not made any decisions. However, in Gorran, the desire to take part is higher than the opposition voices.

"The judiciary is not only under the government influence but also part of the political parties."

KDP wants to ‘handcuff’ new Speaker

2018-11-28 18:58:31

By Surkew Mohammed

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) plans to prevent the issuance of any new law or bill in parliament without its consent. For that, the party depends on the vote of components in the parliament. In that framework, KDP wants to have the first deputy speaker for itself, and the second for the Turkmen component, to handcuff the Speaker of parliament in this tenure.

KDP has 45 seats out of 111 seats of parliament, the second party, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), does not enjoy half the number. However, controlling parliament would prove to be difficult.

Parliament had the lion’s share of confronting KDP in the last four years. Although the new parliament also has opposition, KDP’s plan is different for the next four years.

“Parliament has left a bad taste in KDP’s mouth in the past four years, it will not be repeated in this tenure,” a high-ranking source of KDP told Peregraf.

The source, who preferred to stay anonymous said, “KDP wants a second deputy Speaker for Turkmens, for which we have a strong candidate, Muna Qahwachi from Turkmen Reform party.”

Furthermore, KDP aims at the other deputy Speaker, for a candidate of its own. However, the parliament Speaker is not on the list as KDP might agree to give up the position for PUK or Gorran.

The tendency to revive the suspended position of president has emerged inside the KDP.

The argument is that KDP should keep the position of the Speaker unless the presidency is revived, “In any case, from the three-member parliament Speakership, one is for KDP, and one is for Turkmens,” the source said.

The components have a fixed 11 seats in parliament, which requires fewer votes when compared to the other 100 seats.

For long, KDP has guaranteed the affiliation of all the component representatives, this time through the special voting, as the party advised its military members to vote for a specific component candidate.

In this tenure of parliament, the position of parliament rapporteur will no longer exist.

Instead, the parliament Speaker may have two deputies. Session schedules, bills, and other duties of parliament will be decided not only by the Speaker but by the parliament Speakership. In that case, the Speaker needs at least one deputy to organise such duties.

Turkmens have also expressed their desire to have one parliament Speakership position.

Speaking to Peregraf, Muna Qahwachi said, “As the Turkmen component, we want to participate in the political process through true partnership. We’ll start from the parliament Speakership, and we find it as our right to have a representative in the Speakership.”

Qahwachi’s party, in alliance with four Turkmen parties, has already prepared a proposal for such a matter, in waiting for the KDP to visit them and discuss the project. However, she rejected the notion that she is the sole candidate for the parliament Speakership position, “We, as the Turkmen component, have asked one of the deputy parliament Speakers. If KDP agrees to give the position to Turkmen component, we could discuss it later.”

According to the parliament statute, the Speakership is elected through the absolute majority, that is half+1 of votes. KDP, along with Turkmens, could overcome such a task, as KDP enjoys 45 seats, with the 11 seats of components, the other parties will not be an obstacle for them if KDP is so inclined.

Qahwachi said they have spoken with all parties, and have asked for a share in the new cabinet.

PUK has already voiced its desire to take part in the government, and Gorran follows suit, while there are voices against such a step inside the latter.

While Gorran does not want any position in parliament Speakership, PUK favours parliament Speaker to be their own, along with the deputy prime minister.

On the other hand, KDP plans to have two deputies for the prime minister, one for Gorran. However, KDP officials have openly announced that their party does not want any power distribution between the prime minister and his/her deputy, as it was the case in the past, “We don’t want a deputy to act as the prime minister in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja provinces.”

The first session of parliament was held on 6 November, while the Speakership could not be elected due to the disagreements between the political parties. The session remained open.

As of now, the oldest member of parliament, which is the interim parliament Speaker automatically, is a member of KDP. Although KDP could easily verify the new cabinet through the absolute majority inside parliament, the situation on the ground could prove to be risky, due to the remnants of dual administration. A stable government could not be formed without PUK and Gorran.

While PUK has been an essential element inside the cabinets of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) since 1992, Gorran started in 2009 as opposition, and later joined the government in 2013. The party withdrew then after two years. In these two years, Gorran had the position of the parliament Speaker.

Although the relation between the Speaker of parliament, and his deputy, which was a KDP, was strong, it took a downturn when the presidency row emerged.

The issue reached a point where KDP barred the parliament Speaker to enter Erbil in October 2015.

KDP wants to control the institution by assigning its Speakership. The party could pass any bill through its votes along with the components.

PUK has already decided to take part in the new parliament. The newly-formed New Generation and the Kurdistan Islamic Union have decided to be an opposition, while Gorran and the Kurdistan Islamic Group have not made any decisions. However, in Gorran, the desire to take part is higher than the opposition voices.